Chrysanthemum plant named Dark Circus

ABSTRACT

A chrysanthemum plant named Dark Circus particularly characterized by its flat capitulum form; daisy capitulum type; red-purple ray floret color; diameter across face of capitulum of up to 6.5 cm at maturity when grown as a pinched spray pot mum; uniform nine week photoperiodic flowering response to short days; medium plant height when grown as a pinched pot mum; and by its semi-spreading branching pattern.

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar ofchrysanthemum, botanically known as Chrysanthemum morifolium, Ramat.,and referred to by the cultivar name Dark Circus.

Dark Circus, identified as 72261N02, is a product of a mutationinduction program which had the objective of creating new chrysanthemumcultivars that would expand the color range of an existing cultivarwhile retaining all other traits.

Dark Circus was discovered and selected by Cornelis P. VandenBerg onOct. 13, 1983 in a controlled environment in Salinas, Calif. as oneflowering plant within a flowering block established as rooted cuttingsfrom stock plants which had been exposed as unrooted cuttings to anx-ray source of 1750 rads. The irradiated parent was the cultivaridentified as Circus, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 4,188.

The first act of asexual reproduction of Dark Circus was accomplishedwhen vegetative cuttings were taken from the initial selection inDecember 1983 in a controlled environment in Salinas, Calif., bytechnicians working under formulations established and supervised byCornelis P. VandenBerg.

Horticultural examination of controlled flowerings of successiveplantings has shown that the unique combination of characteristics asherein disclosed for Dark Circus are firmly fixed and are retainedthrough successive generations of asexual reproduction.

Dark Circus has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions. The phenotype may vary significantly with variations inenvironment such as temperature, light intensity, and day length.

The following observations, measurements and comparisons describe plantsgrown in Salinas, Calif. and Leamington, Canada, under greenhouseconditions which approximate those generally used in commercialgreenhouse practice.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe basic characteristics of Dark Circus, which, in combination,distinguish this chrysanthemum as a new and distinct cultivar:

1. Flat capitulum form.

2. Daisy capitulum type.

3. Red-purple ray floret color.

4. Diameter across face of capitulum up to 6.5 cm at maturity, whengrown as a pinched spray pot mum.

5. Uniform nine week photoperiodic flowering response to short days.

6. Medium plant height, requiring 0 to 7 long days after pinch prior toshort days and 1 application of 2500 ppm B-9 SP to attain a floweredplant height of 25 to 35 cm for year round flowerings when grown as apinched pot mum.

7. Semi-spreading branching pattern.

The accompanying photographic drawings show typical inflorescence andleaf characteristics of Dark Circus, with the colors being as nearlytrue as possible with illustrations of this type. Sheet 1 is a colorphotograph of Dark Circus grown as a pinched spray pot mum. Sheet 2 is ablack and white photograph of three views of the inflorescence of DarkCircus. Sheet 3 is a black and white photograph showing the upper andunder sides of the leaves of Dark Circus at three stages of development(mature, intermediate and immature).

Of the commercial cultivars known to the inventor, the most similar incomparison to Dark Circus is the parent cultivar Circus. All traits ofDark Circus are similar to those of Circus, except the color of rayflorets and the diameter across face of capitulum. The color of the rayflorets of Dark Circus is red-purple, as contrasted with thelavender-pink ray florets of Circus. The diameter across face ofcapitulum of Dark Circus is up to 6.5 cm at maturity, with the capitulumdiameter of Circus being up to 7.0 cm at maturity.

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart. The color values were determined onplant material grown as a pinched spray pot mum in Salinas, Calif. onMar. 24, 1986.

Classification:

Botanical.-- Chrysanthemum morifolium, Ramat., cv. Dark Circus.

Commercial.--Daisy spray pot mum.

INFLORESCENCE

A. Capitulum:

Form.--Flat.

Type.--Daisy.

Diameter across face.--Up to 6.5 cm at maturity.

B. Corolla of ray florets:

Color (general tonality from a distance of three meters).--Red-purple.

Color (upper surface).--70B.

Color (under surface).--74B to 74C.

Shape.--Flat, oblong.

C. Corolla of disc florets:

Color (mature).--14A to 14B.

Color (immature).--144B to 144C.

D. Reproductive organs:

Androecium.--Present on disc florets only; moderate pollen.

Gynoecium.--Present on both ray and disc florets.

PLANT

A. General appearance:

Height.--Medium; 25 to 35 cm as a pinched spray pot mum with 0 to 7 longdays after pinch prior to short days and 1 application of 2500 ppm B-9SP.

Branching patern.--Semi-spreading.

B. Foliage:

Color (upper surface).--147A to 147B.

Color (under surface).--148B.

Shape.--Lobed and serrated.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct chrysanthemum plant named Dark Circus, as described and illustrated, and particularly characterized as to uniqueness by the combined characteristics of flat capitulum form; daisy capitulum type; red-purple ray floret color; diameter across face of capitulum of up to 6.5 cm at maturity when grown as a pinched spray pot mum; uniform nine week photoperiodic flowering response to short days; medium plant height when grown as a pinched pot mum; and semi-spreading branching pattern. 